W&W Morning Run: “J. Edgar” Retains Rumors About Hoover

Leonardo DiCaprio and Clint Eastwood talk to the New York Times about "J.Edgar," which is starting to screen this week for journalists, and obviously much of the pre-release attention has been how the movie will depict J. Edgar Hoover's sexuality.

Brooks Barnes writes, "The treacherous part of “J. Edgar,” written by Dustin Lance Black, an Oscar winner for his "Milk" screenplay, involves the gray. Was Hoover homosexual? Nobody knows for sure. He certainly had an unusually close relationship with his F.B.I. colleague Clyde Tolson, played in the film by Armie Hammer (“The Social Network”). Even less clear is whether Hoover liked to wear women’s clothes, but Mr. Eastwood and Mr. DiCaprio decided to retain Mr. Black’s artful nod to the rumor.

Eastwood says, "'Obviously there’s a love story here. Whether it is a gay love story or something else — well, the audience can interpret it. My intention was to show two men who really love each other, and beyond that it’s none of my business.'"

For the Gipper: The MPAA's centennial celebration of Ronald Reagan on Nov. 14 will feature a panel with Chris Dodd, Sam Donaldson, Kenneth Duberstein and Andrea Mitchell. Politico editor-in-chief John Harris will moderate the event, focusing on Reagan's role as a communicator from his days in Hollywood to the White House.

Rebuttal: On last night's "Daily Show," Jon Stewart responded to Donald Trump's charge that he is a "racist" for the way that he skewered the Herman Cain sexual harassment story.